In His Custody ✎ (MaNan)

✰ 30 - bridging hearts

Welcome to the few new readers who are onboard, I hope you enjoy reading this journey just as much as I enjoyed writing it :")

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5 October 2010

My head was over a folded arm cradled by the seat in front as I desperately tried to catch some much-needed sleep before a long day at school. The bus came to a halt and children swarmed in, but hearing a thump behind my seat and two knees pushing on the seat from behind made me groggily sit up. "Good morning!" He chirped, overall in a much better mood than the last few weeks, if not days.

Stifling a yawn, I adjusted my backpack on my lap, wary to not annoy my bus partner into encroaching on her space. "Where's your bike?" I asked to the window.

He leaned in, resting his head on my backrest, his head touching mine in a mildly intimate manner. How was he so at ease when being physically close to me, while even the slightest touch of him had me swooning for a few solid minutes?! "I left it at home so I could get an excuse to meet you early." The casually spoken phrase set off a whirlwind of emotions within me.

It had been just over twelve hours since he kissed me, and still reeling from the events that transpired, dreaming of sleep last night had been by itself a completely lost cause. I was beyond glad when Abhimanyu's friends set up a party and he invited me to join along for the cake-cutting celebration at midnight.

Navya was apparently supposed to be there for the midnight surprise, but had received an invite too late into the night and could not formulate a satisfactory excuse to get permission.

Rishu and I were there for about an hour, give or take, taking part in their excitement without hindering their space and group dynamic. I was careful enough to not make any eye contact with Manik, but also I didn't think I had the guts to after the kiss. After a while, we too had resorted to our rooms and I twisted and tumbled in my bed while replaying the encounter in my head over and over until the first rays of sun blessed the sky with twinges of pinks and oranges.

I closed my eyes against his head and effortlessly drifted into a deep sleep, that was beyond shocking for a ten-minute bus ride. It only reflected how knackered I was. If that was the case, how was I going to focus on almost seven hours of class?    

As we disembarked the bus, Manik and I fell into step with each other. His hand softly brushed mine sending shocks down my spine as we walked, and after the first time, I was swift in bringing it against my stomach, crossing my arms to prevent any contact with him. Eyeing him from the corner, I could sense his irritation.

He tugged on the strap of my bag and attempted to yank it out of my grip. I stopped in my tracks to protest when his shoulders flexed and he clicked his lips in dismissal, "Arre give na? What else am I here for?" Using his strength to claim my backpack, he threw it over his other vacant shoulder and walked beside me with a bag on each side.

Brimming with unexplainable joy for a multitude of reasons, I looked at his handsome face... he was beginning to grow a stubble on his pale freckle-free skin, and the mole above his lip danced as he itched the sides of his stippled mustache with his lips, pouting and twisting them cutely. A soft giggle escaped my lips and out of pure instinct, I stroked the mole downwards, soothing the area as his eyes met mine.   

As deeply enchanting as they were, there was not a wink of lethargy in them. "You were up until at least four AM. How are you not tired?" I said, recounting Abhi's narration when I asked him how the party went this morning.